ELDER SPENCER HINCKLEY ARRIVES IN ARGENTINA

Another great part of this Christmas season along with the birth of Josh was the two phone calls we received from Spencer. He left the MTC on December 22 and arrived in New York City at 3:00pm. He was able to call and had a 300 minute calling card. So not only did Greg and I get to talk to him, but he got to talk to Derek, Nathan and Lindsay. It was great and he was so excited to be heading for Argentina at 10:00pm that night (that made a 7 hour layover in New York). He arrived in Argentina the following day around 2:00 pm. Our next phone call was on Christmas Day. Argentina is about 5 hours time different from us and two seasons away from us! It is the hottest time of the year there. The missionaries were calling home from the bishop's office with their calling cards and were loving it because the office is air-conditioned. (Most places do not have air conditioning including the chapel which has several ceiling fans.) Anyway, he sounded so excited to be there and on Christmas Eve they had actually done some tracting and talked to several people and he was able to bear his testimony in spanish to a lady. We are anxiously awaiting our first e-mail from him. Here is the e-mail address to use to communicate with him now: spencer.j.hinckley@myldsmail.net
His p-day is Tuesday. That is when he can read and respond to e-mail. I'm sure he would appreciate an e-mail from y'all from time to time!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Grandpa & Joshy

Grandma & Joshy

"Baby Josh"

Winter Wonderland
Todd & Lindsay's Home

After almost two and a half weeks in Utah, I am back in Tennessee. It was a magical time being there with Todd, Lindsay & Baby Josh during the Christmas season. As you can see from the pictures it was a winter wonderland in Utah and all we did and wanted to do was sit by the Christmas tree with the fire place roaring and hold baby Josh. I enjoyed every minute of it and really was sad to come back home (although I was missing Greg!!). We did have the chance when
Greg came for a few days to spend time with my mom, Bob and Pam, Sterling and Linda and Grandma Perrine, along with a lot of other nieces and nephews and their families. I am most grateful though that I had the chance to spend this precious time with Lindsay and the baby. Todd and Lindsay are such cute parents and Lindsay is just radiant with love and joy for Josh. We are already trying to plan the next time we can see each other. I hope it's not long.

SANTA CAME EARLY THIS YEAR!!!

Joshua Todd McCormick

Proud Daddy!
Mommy & Joshy

Grandma & Baby Josh
Aunt Pam
Joshy's Great-Grandma
Joshy's Great-Great Grandma
Jenny & Lindsay playing with their baby dolls!!!
Precious!!

And baby makes three!
Going home from the hospital.

Well, we got an early Christmas present this year. Little Joshua Todd was born Tuesday, December 9th at 6:02 am. I wasn't scheduled to go to Utah for a week but I hurriedly changed my ticket hoping to make it in time. I'm glad for Lindsay that he came so quickly and fairly easily, but as it worked out I was in Cincinnati on a layover talking to Lindsay on the phone when he was born. So I did get to "hear" the birth and was in Salt Lake by noon. He is an absolute doll baby and it is so fun to have him here at Lindsay and Todd's house. It makes the Christmas spirit just that much more special.

"Thanksgiving Eve"

Since we will be in Utah for Christmas, we celebrated "Thanksgiving Eve" with the Grandkids instead. They were all so cute with their presents. We had a wonderful week-end together!!

Writing Elder Spencer Hinckley

With the holidays coming, I thought I would let everyone know the different ways to communicate with Spencer. The best way in the MTC is through dearelder.com

Go to www.dearelder.com
Click on Write a letter
Choose Provo MTC from the drop down menu
Click "Write a Missionary"
Fill in his information:
Elder Spencer Hinckley
MTC Box #234
Mission code: ARG-BAW 1223
Estimated MTC departure date: 12/23/08

Add your e-mail address and type your letter. To get the letter there
the same day you have to write it before 11:00 am MST. Since Spencer is the district leader he is the one that picks up the mail for his district every day, so let's make sure he has lots of letters too.

If you want to send a letter or package to the MTC here is the address:
Elder Spencer Jesse Hinckley
Box 234-1223
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604

When he gets to Argentina the end of December here is the address for letters:
Elder Spencer Jesse Hinckley
Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT
84130-0150

Address where packages can be sent:
Elder Spencer Jesse Hinckley
Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission
Ballesteros 1076
1706 Haedo
Buenos Aires
Argentina

He will have an e-mail address when he get to Argentina also. I will post it at that time. Thanks for helping us support him!!

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Our adorable grandkids!!!!

Dawson and Carter
Kayli, Hyrum and Layton


Thanks for the great pictures Linds!

Fall in Tennessee!!!

November is proving to be the peak time for the leaves here in Knoxville. The dogwood trees are beautiful in the Spring, but I think these colors and this time of year is the most beautiful!!

HALLOWEEN!!!

It was so fun to see the Grandkids in their Halloween costumes. Dawson and Carter were both Superman just like Derek and Nathan were when they were about the same age. Kayli was a southern belle, Hyrum a pirate, and baby Layton was a bumblebee. It was so fun having Lindsay and Todd with us for a week, too. Lindsay had a wedding in Raleigh, NC so they came and stayed with us between the wedding and reception ( which was one week later.)

My missionary!!

Spencer has officially been on his mission today for 1 week. If you have ever sent a son on a mission you know how hard the first week is. The first day you literally feel like someone has died. As soon as you get over that day it's not so bad. I was so thankful that Spencer got to spend time with both his brothers and his sister before he left. He spent two days before entering the MTC with Todd and Lindsay and was able to see some relatives in Utah including Grandma Perrine, Grandma Pritchett, Aunt Pam and Uncle Sterling. Todd, Lindsay and Grandma Pritchett actually took him to the MTC on October 22nd and made sure that "all was well". I haven't been to the MTC with any of my sons and feel like it is just too hard to say good-bye there.
Spencer received an incredible blessing when he was set apart as a missionary and his mission has already strengthened my testimony. I received a letter he had written a day and a half after being in the MTC and the words he wrote were definitely not typical of "Spence." They were however typical of a young man set apart by Priesthood authority to spread the good news to the world that the gospel and priesthood power to act in the name of God has been restored to the earth in these latter-day. (Sorry if that sounds preachy- I intend to use this blog to share my thoughts, feelings, and testimony with my friends and family). I love all my kids and I love my missionary son!!

Introducing our family!

Blogging seems to be the thing to do now days so I guess I'll give it a try!!
Since my family is one of the most important things in my life I thought I would start out with our latest family picture taken back in April. This was such a fun vacation and so great to have us all together!!